Clashes disrupt Milan protests as Italian cities prepare for November strike
Police used tear gas and water cannon near Milan's cathedral as demonstrations over living costs also brought unrest to Turin and Bologna.
Protests over the cost of living led to clashes in Milan, Turin and Bologna on Saturday, with police using tear gas and water cannon as some demonstrators threw stones and other objects, according to Italian news agency ANSA. Marches were also held in Rome, while a national trade union leader announced a general strike for 20 November.
The most serious disturbances reported by ANSA took place around Milan's Piazza Duomo, where protesters threw objects at police and damaged property. Officers initially withdrew before reinforcements moved into the square. Police vehicles were targeted, and some restaurants' outdoor furniture was set alight, according to ANSA and Rzeczpospolita.
ANSA reported at least four officers and 20 demonstrators injured in Milan, with more than 50 people detained. The broadcaster TGCom24 separately reported 40 detentions, showing that the figures differed between reports. A final, reconciled total was not available in the accounts reviewed.
Shops around the cathedral closed their shutters, while tourists left the centre during the disturbances, according to Index.hr. The Duomo metro station was temporarily closed. Reports said police attempted to remove masked demonstrators from the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the shopping arcade beside the square.
Clashes were also reported near Bologna's railway station. ANSA said officers used water cannon and tear gas after objects were thrown. In Turin, a march organised by local groups was disrupted by confrontations involving masked groups. These incidents were separate from the clashes around Milan's cathedral and do not share Milan's reported injury total.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned property damage while affirming the right to protest. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said demonstrators' concerns were understandable but violence against police and destruction in the city were unacceptable, ANSA reported. The marches centred on the price of fuel, taxes and the wider cost of living.
Trade union leader Maurizio Landini called for a general strike on 20 November, according to ANSA. Reports described protests across several cities, but no official final national count of injuries, arrests or property losses was established in the material.
Follow this story
An email when there is a real update (a new toll, a cause, an arrest). Nothing else; stop with one click.
Free: one story at a time. Members follow as many stories as they like.
What we know
- Protests were held in Milan, Rome and Turin on Saturday.
- ANSA reported violence around Piazza Duomo and clashes in Bologna and Turin.
- Police used tear gas and water cannon in response to some disturbances.
- ANSA reported at least four injured police officers and 20 injured demonstrators in Milan.
- A general strike was announced for 20 November.
Not yet confirmed
- A final consolidated arrest total for Milan was not established.
- A national total for damage and injuries was not available.
Figure history
PremiumSee how the casualty figure in this story changed, when, and who gave each number.
Why it matters for Europe
The unrest disrupted central Milan, including the Duomo metro station and businesses around the cathedral. Separate confrontations in Bologna and Turin extended the public-order response beyond one city. The announcement of a November general strike creates a further date for transport and business operators to monitor, although the sources did not establish which services might be affected.
Sources
Reported by 14 reports from 14 independent outlets in 8 countries.
- ANSA: Cortei a Milano, Roma e Torino. Landini: "Sciopero generale il 20 novembre"
- ANSA: A Milano lancio di sassi e cariche della polizia, feriti e fermati. Scontri a Torino e a Bologna
- Portal Analitika: Neredi i na protestima u Italiji: Najžešće bilo u Milanu, povrijeđeno više ljudi
- TGCom24: "Italia in piazza", cortei in tredici città | A Milano guerriglia in piazza Duomo e bombe carta contro la polizia: 40 fermi
- Știrile ProTV: Lupte de gherilă urbană la Milano. Marșul împotriva scumpirilor s-a transformat în haos, cu zeci de răniți, gaze lacrimogene și tunuri cu apă
Source balance
PremiumSee how the 13 outlets behind this story spread from left to right, and which are official or OSINT sources.
Free during the launch: create an account →Log inHow we rate sources
Intelligence file
PremiumSee how we verified this story
Confidence and impact scores, 10 more sources, the full situation report and the event timeline.
Launch offer: free for members until 31 October 2026
Questions and answers
- Where were clashes reported in Italy?
- ANSA reported disturbances in Milan, Turin and Bologna.
- How many people were hurt in Milan?
- ANSA reported at least four injured officers and 20 injured demonstrators.
- When was the general strike announced for?
- Trade union leader Maurizio Landini called for a general strike on 20 November.
This article was written with AI assistance from 15 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.